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HARRISBURG — A new audit reveals the General Assembly sits on a $153 million uncommitted surplus, grist for a state budget debate likely to go past the June 30 due date.

With Pennsylvania facing a $1.4 billion revenue problem, Gov. Tom Corbett and lawmakers are looking to generate revenue to balance the next budget.

The audit, approved Wednesday by the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission, reports the $153 million surplus at the end of fiscal 2012-13. It shows that 80 percent of the $301 million in categorized spending by the legislative branch that year went for salaries and benefits of lawmakers and staff.

Overall, legislative appropriations totaled $314 million that year. The audit by Mitchell & Titus of Philadelphia is posted on the General Assembly website at www.legis.state.pa.us

Lawmakers said they need a surplus to function independently and pay staffers in case of a budget stalemate lasting several months such as happened in 2009.

“The reserves are there to help ward off a possible stalemate on a budget,” said Rep. Mark Keller, R-86, New Bloomfield, the commission chairman.

It’s too early to decide through budget negotiations whether all or a portion of the surplus should be earmarked for a state program, said Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-7, Philadelphia, a commission member.

“We’re not resistant to trying to help out,” he said.

The surplus sparked the governor’s interest.

“These dollars offer the opportunity to protect needed state programs in jeopardy of being cut due to our current fiscal situation,” said Corbett spokesman Jay Pagni. “Gov. Corbett looks forward to working with the Legislature to fund common priorities with these resources.”

“A good portion should be used to help with the budget so citizens of Pennsylvania don’t have to pay more taxes,” said veteran Capitol activist Gene Stip. He is the Democratic candidate for a state House seat in Dauphin County.

Portions of the surplus have been earmarked in recent years for accountability block grants for school districts.

The audit report was approved six months late due mainly to a change in the chairmanship. Mr. Keller promised an on-time audit for fiscal 2013-14.

The auditing firm has recommended that legislative leaders establish a policy regarding this continual surplus, but that has yet to be done. The commission is advisory in nature so the firm’s recommendations have to be approved by legislative leaders, said Mr. Keller.

A Democratic lawmaker reintroduced legislation Wednesday to have the state auditor general audit the legislative branch.

“Requiring the elected auditor general to conduct these audits, as opposed to the current practice of the legislature hiring someone to perform the audit, will ensure a more public assessment of how the legislature spends the money it allocates for its operations,” said Rep. Bob Freeman, D-136, Easton.

Contact the writer:

rswift@timesshamrock.com

Surplus breakdown

For the first time, the commission provided a breakdown of the surplus among the House and Senate and 13 legislative bureaus and commissions:

■ House, $71.8 million

■ Senate, $50 million

■ Legislative Data Processing Commission, $15 million

■ Legislative Reference Bureau, $5 million

■ Commonwealth Mail Processing Center, $2.3 million

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